Thundurus now has Volt Absorb and 145 base Special attack as well. You can't really say they won't be doing huge work in the new meta.

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Therian formes will make HP Ice at least a bit more popular, even though the only really noticable use of Thundurus-T over Zapdos is Volt Absorb, the SpAtk boost isn't super important and the speed boost does next to nothing.

Therian formes will make HP Ice at least a bit more popular, even though the only really noticable use of Thundurus-T over Zapdos is Volt Absorb, the SpAtk boost isn't super important and the speed boost does next to nothing.

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i'm sorry, i can't hear you over the sound of my specs thunderbolt 2hkoing your <any pokemon neutral to electric>

Are you serious? So you're saying someone who qualifies for Nationals through the first regional with a completely different metagame than the one that is being played at Nationals itself is fair? :evan:

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It's not like the one who qualified for nationals is hiding in a cave somewhere with no access to internet. Odds are, he can get the update about it and change his team accordingly.

I agree, it isn't the best idea, but it isn't as bad as he is making it out to be.

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It is as bad as I'm making it out to be.

For example, say I qualify for VGC 2012 Nationals through a VGC 2011 ruleset which was considerably easier. That wouldn't be fair because then at Nationals I'd be competing with people who have fought harder than I did to qualify and chances are I'd lose too because I'm not adapted to the currently played ruleset. Not only that, but having three regionals completely solves this problem as well. Those who don't want to play the VGC one week after the game releases will just not compete in fall regionals and will in either the winter or spring . It really isn't that big of a deal as everyone is making it out to be.

VGC 2012 Seniors Champion

Rukario, stop.
I know I sound bad at the moment, but the fact of the matter is, if you centralize the game around actual playing, which the tournament is about, it really doesn't matter what your meta is; you will qualify if you're the better player then your opponent. Of course, team building has a huge impact and has an impact on every tournament. However, there is really no issue with using a different meta from nats almost a full year before nats. If anything, it keeps the meta more fresh without shutting people without access to six RNG'ers out. Your concept of a meta, in which BW2 is still legal even if it's just a week after release, completely defeats the purpose of having an open regional. You should not have to learn and practice a meta 6 weeks before a game even comes out with tools not available to just any player for it to be competitively feasible for you to attend. Admittedly, I don't like the meta this year; however, it isn't fair to say that only players who play on PO often, in a centralized meta, have a fair chance to compete.

Even if I just typed that entire paragraph, I know you'll continue to disagree, which is fine. I'd just prefer to throw my opinion out here so I don't feel like I should have done it later on.

Rukario, stop.
I know I sound bad at the moment, but the fact of the matter is, if you centralize the game around actual playing, which the tournament is about, it really doesn't matter what your meta is; you will qualify if you're the better player then your opponent. Of course, team building has a huge impact and has an impact on every tournament. However, there is really no issue with using a different meta from nats almost a full year before nats. If anything, it keeps the meta more fresh without shutting people without access to six RNG'ers out. Your concept of a meta, in which BW2 is still legal even if it's just a week after release, completely defeats the purpose of having an open regional. You should not have to learn and practice a meta 6 weeks before a game even comes out with tools not available to just any player for it to be competitively feasible for you to attend. Admittedly, I don't like the meta this year; however, it isn't fair to say that only players who play on PO often, in a centralized meta, have a fair chance to compete.

Even if I just typed that entire paragraph, I know you'll continue to disagree, which is fine. I'd just prefer to throw my opinion out here so I don't feel like I should have done it later on.

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Okay, that's fine. Put your opinion out there. My whole point is that the inconsistency with the rulesets for one season will throw people off. The VGC has built it's foundations on having a sole metagame with it developing throughout the season and then at the climactic Worlds, we get to see all these cool teams that are built to defeat the metagame itself. I don't at all agree with a metagame change, but I guess I'm the only one on that boat.

Okay, that's fine. Put your opinion out there. My whole point is that the inconsistency with the rulesets for one season will throw people off. The VGC has built it's foundations on having a sole metagame with it developing throughout the season and then at the climactic Worlds, we get to see all these cool teams that are built to defeat the metagame itself. I don't at all agree with a metagame change, but I guess I'm the only one on that boat.

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I wouldn't like it either, but I think it's at least a bit better than creating a whole new metagame and having people get a week to prepare themselves for it. I still don't condone, it though. It's best to keep it at the VGC 2012 metagame all season.

I don't think it would really throw people off, since metagames can and have shifted in between tournaments before and players adapt. Don't most players make a change to their teams between tournaments anyways? How would this be any different in a detrimental way? You'll have enough time to adapt to a new ruleset between the fall regionals and Nats, so you can't say it's a time thing.

People, the point is TPCi doesn't think it's a bad idea because they've been doing it in the TCG since it was released. If it happens, it happens, but honestly the better player will win despite the meta. Look at Ray. He won worlds in 3 vastly different metagames. Even if they DO change meta's on us, odds are it won't be too different and we'll be able to adapt easily. It's a pointless argument imo.

People, the point is TPCi doesn't think it's a bad idea because they've been doing it in the TCG since it was released. If it happens, it happens, but honestly the better player will win despite the meta. Look at Ray. He won worlds in 3 vastly different metagames. Even if they DO change meta's on us, odds are it won't be too different and we'll be able to adapt easily. It's a pointless argument imo.

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I completely agree.

I'd also like to add that your argument about people unfairly "qualifying" is irrelevant because we are following TCG in many aspects (potentially in having a changing meta through the season is just one), and nationals from now on will most likely be completely open or reasonably easy to qualify for with Play! Points, which have nothing to do with finishes at events.